Sanitary Sewer Utility

The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is operated under the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).  The complexity of the operation is driven by Federal and State laws, which are administered by these two agencies.  The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) predominantly drives the entire operation.  The Sanitary Sewer fund budget is separated for control purposes between the sanitary sewer collection system and the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Both departments were merged under the Director of Utilities & Public Works in 2018.

The collection and treatment of all wastewater generated in the City of Waseca is the responsibility of the City.  The treatment plant has an annual design average flow of 2.34 millions gallons per day and a peak flow of 10.4 million gallons, due to Inflow and Infiltration (I&I).  The wastewater collection system contains about 44 miles of pipe and 9 lift stations.

The entire operation is funded from fees collected for the sanitary sewer fund.  These fees primarily consist of residential, commercial and inductrial customers.  There are approximately 3,250 total customers.

This fund reflects all utility departmental activities, including meter reading, customer billing, administrative operations, permit compliance, maintenance and captial projects, and debt service activities.

Meter Reading / Customer Billing / Adminitration

Costs for these activities are shared between water, sanitary sewer and electric on a 33%, 33%, 34% allocation respectively.

Personnel Levels

• Administration
  • City Manager / Director of Utilities & Public Works
• Billing & Administrative Support
  • Utilities Office Manager (33% allocation)
  • Utilities Office Technicians (2)  (33% allocation)
• Operations
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor
  • Certified Operators (3)